China’s Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (FREP) has commissioned a new STRATCO alkylation unit at its 12 million tons/year integrated refining and petrochemical complex at Meizhou Bay in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. The new unit uses technology provided by DuPont Clean Technologies. It will convert a mixed-butylene FCC feedstock into 300,000 tons/year of low-sulfur, high-octane, low-rvp alkylate, allowing the complex to produce fuels complying with the China VI-A emission standard, equivalent to Euro 6.
It will also be capable of complying with the China VI-B standard, scheduled to come into effect in 2023. According to DuPont, alkylate production from the unit will further reduce levels of benzene, aromatics, and olefins in the gasoline pool. Fujian Petrochemical Co. Ltd, a joint venture of Sinopec and the Fujian government, owns 50% of FREP. Other shareholders are Saudi Aramco Asia Co. Ltd. (25%) and ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (25%).
